Baraza JM Hi Baraza, 1. Do electric vehicles stand a chance in Kenya? 2. Is it possible to convert a car to use electricity? If so, what are the pros and cons of implementing such an idea in Kenya? Nick 1. At the moment, not a chance in hell. 2. Yes, but the costs and labour involved … Read more
I was going to start off this article making analogies involving fashion accessories — about how they are high on looks and low on practicality — and I also intended to talk about the unwise move of deploying the pop star wife of a football legend in the automotive world to influence the end product … Read more
Hi Baraza, I am currently in the process of acquiring a saloon Subaru Leone, 1500 cc. It’s an old model as far as I can see, with a carburettor boxer engine, (the one that fits a spare tyre in the hood) and is a 4-speed manual. Please give me details of the car’s history and … Read more
Hi Baraza, Kindly educate me on the following issues: 1. What is the consumption of the Subaru Forester when driving in a normal manner and when driving like you want to fly? 2. What is the cost of the new model of the Volkswagen Passat and can I get a second-hand one? 3. Which among … Read more
Hi Baraza, I understand the Russians make some of the best war planes and tanks, but rarely do we see Russian products on our roads, like the Niva, or the Kamaz, which I understand has won the Dakar Rally nine times in a row. Tell me about the Lada Niva and the Mazda 6 Joe … Read more
Baraza, Recently, a rain storm in South C tried to convert my Nissan B15 into a yacht; the water line was just below (about 1 cm) the side wind windows. It refused to float and ended up taking in water. Once safe, I got it towed to higher ground and left it overnight to get … Read more
JM, Let me state from the get go that I’m an irredeemable petrolhead through and through. Having said that, I’ve made some observations that I suspect are not unique to Kenyan roads, such as the fact that most accidents are the handiwork of drivers with “unschooled” blood, you know, the kind that think they are … Read more
Hi Baraza, 1. How does the 2004 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT compare to the 2004 Toyota Voltz S 1.8/2.0 in terms of performance, comfort, driver appeal, practicality, safety and insurance? 2. Why was the production of the Voltz stopped after 2004? 3. What criteria is used to determine a vehicle’s insurance policy cover in relation … Read more
Baraza, I understand that turbo-charged cars perform better than naturally aspirated engine ones. So, what exactly is the effect of a turbocharger on a car? Does it increase the horsepower, stability, or pick-up speed? And does a turbo-charged Nissan B13 stand a chance against an NA Subaru Legacy? And do tuned engines perform better than … Read more
This is a story about a newspaper article, an expensive car with a straight-six engine, a national park and an all-wheel drive torque deployment system. It began about three weeks ago when a reader asked about the BMW X6, and the answer I gave was not exactly palatable to the marketers of cars bearing the … Read more